Curse of Thorns

Prologue

The Contract was written in black ink, so black it looked like an abyss. I felt bad for my daughter for doing this to her. What choice did we have? The contract was sealed: on the eve of her eighteenth birthday she is to marry a merman.

"Mommy?"

Florence's blue eyes grew wide, and I immediately knew she was scared. I bent down to my knees, brushed my hands through her soft blonde hair, and hugged her tight. I decided then that I would not speak of our arrangement and that I would get her out of this. No matter the cost.